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Isaimozhi
Ivan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thulu Podu Thulu

From Ivan · 2002

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
Karthik, Sujatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ivan
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
7 Oct 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thoovu salt thulu lemonu saaru
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thoovu salt thulu lemonu saaru
Udhatula oora vacha
Oorugaayum paaru
Ull naakku sappu kottum
Taste panni paaru
Baava nee baava naan baava ra baava
Nee baava naan baava ra baava
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thoovu salt thulu lemonu saaru
Udhatula oora vacha oorugaayum engae
Ull naakku sappu kotti kettkuthadi ingae
Baava
Female :Baava baava baava baava baava
Baava baava baava baava
Kokkok kokkongura
Andhra ponnu yenguraa
Male :Vaanaliyil varuthu vaasanaigal serthu
Erakki veikkum bothu enna sollum oorugaai
Maangaaiyum kooda masakkaiyaa aayidum
Oorum kai unnalae endru sollum oorugaai
Male :Oorugaaiyil aan pen irukkudi
Onakku terinjaa velakki solludi
Ennai vazhinja ponbala oorugaai
Asadu vazhinja aambala oorugaai
Daily cinema chupistha raavae
Female :Chusinthi chaalu vishayam ledhae
Male :Osthae istha kaakkinada kadha
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Female :Thoovu salt thulu lemonu saaru
Oora veikka oora veikka taste innum koodum
Kaaya veikka kaaya veikka kakka kothi pogum
Moodi veikka moodi veikka moodu innum koodum
Kaiya veikka kaiya veikka thaiya thakka aagum
Idlykku sooda inji oorga
Konjida vandha gonkura oorugaa
Iduppa paartha aavakka ooruga
Adhukku mela maavadu oorukka
Manchithi manjam undhi baava
Male :Pottukka ledhae navathukumma
Female :Osthe istha badam paalu nukku vaa
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thoovu salt thulu lemonu saaru
Male :Udhatula oora vacha oorugaayum engae
Ull naakku sappu kotti kettkuthadi ingae
Baava baava baava baava
Nee baava naa baava ra baava
Baava baava
Nee baava naa baava ra baava
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Thulu podu thulu molagaa thulu
Female :Baava baava baava baava
Nee baava naa baava ra baava
Baava baava
Nee baava naa baava ra baava
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle the salt and squeeze the lemon juice!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle the salt and squeeze the lemon juice!
Soaking on the lips,
look at this pickle!
Your tongue will smack with relish,
taste it and see!
Bava (sweetheart), you are my Bava, oh Bava!
You are my Bava, oh Bava!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle the salt and squeeze the lemon juice!
Where is that pickle seasoned on your lips?
My tongue smacks in craving and asks for it right here!
Bava!
Female: Bava, Bava, Bava, Bava, Bava!
Bava, Bava, Bava, Bava!
Clucking playfully like a hen,
this Andhra girl is longing for you!
Male: Roasted in the pan with aromatic spices,
what does the pickle say when taken off the heat?
Even a raw mango gets cravings,
and the pickle says it was seasoned by your hands!
Male: Pickles have male and female kinds, girl!
If you know the difference, explain it to me, girl!
Dripping with oil is the female pickle,
looking shy and sheepish is the male pickle!
I will take you to movies every day, come along!
Female: I have seen enough, there is nothing special in you!
Male: If you come, I will treat you to a Kakinada sweet!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Female: Sprinkle the salt and squeeze the lemon juice!
The longer it marinates, the better it tastes!
If you leave it in the sun too long, a crow will peck it away!
The more you keep it covered, the more the mood builds!
When hands start touching, the dance gets lively!
Hot ginger pickle for idlis,
tangy gongura (sorrel leaves) pickle when we cuddle,
looking at your waist, it is spicy avakkai mango pickle,
and above that, tender baby mango pickle!
A cozy bed is ready, dear Bava!
Male: I cannot hold back my laughter, smiling girl!
Female: If you come, I will give you almond milk—come to me!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle the salt and squeeze the lemon juice!
Male: Where is that pickle seasoned on your lips?
My tongue smacks in craving and asks for it right here!
Bava, Bava, Bava, Bava!
You are my Bava, oh Bava!
Bava, Bava!
You are my Bava, oh Bava!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Sprinkle it, sprinkle the chilli powder!
Female: Bava, Bava, Bava, Bava!
You are my Bava, oh Bava!
Bava, Bava!
You are my Bava, oh Bava!
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thulu Podu from the movie Ivan (2002) is a quirky, high-energy folk duet composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics, written by Kabilan, mix Tamil folk idioms with Telugu slang to build a playful romantic dialogue between the lead characters. The song uses food preparation—specifically the making, marinating, and spicing of pickles—as a metaphor for physical attraction, culinary cravings, and teasing romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Iduppa paartha aavakka ooruga

Compares various feminine features and romantic moods to famous South Indian pickle varieties like Avakai, Gongura, and Maavadu.

Anaphora / Repetition

Oora veikka oora veikka taste innum koodum

Repetition of identical structures at the beginning of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, chant-like folk momentum.

Code-Switching (Linguistic Device)

Chusinthi chaalu vishayam ledhae

Blending Telugu words (Chusinthi, Chupistha, Baava) with Tamil to highlight the character's regional Andhra persona.

Onomatopoeia

Kokkok kokkongura

Use of vocal sound imitation like 'Kokkok kokkongura' to mimic hen sounds and create a playful mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Ivan was directed by Parthiban, known for his unconventional narratives and wordplay. To give the song a unique Andhra-border flavor, lyricist Kabilan integrated popular Telugu terms like 'Baava' (brother-in-law/suitor) and famous Andhra culinary references like 'Kakinada Kaja' and 'Gongura'.

Keep listening

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View album

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